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Aprifi 10, I951. w. L. HANCOCK ET AL APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND DISPENSING PAINT Filed Dec. 30, 1,947

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Milan/1Z1. Bernard Filed Dec. 50, 1947' W. L. HANCOCK ET AL APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND DISPENSING PAINT April 10, 1951 2,548,106

3 fiheets-Sheet 2 5 Sheets-Sheet s llfl/zamizwn alga/27 V.

W. L. HANCOCK ET AL APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND DISPENSING PAINT Ami? 10, 1951 Filed Dec. 30, 1947 Patented Apr. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT OFFECE AIPARATUS FORMIXING AND DISPENSING PAINT Application December 30, 1947, Serial No. 794,718

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an apparatus for mixing and dispensing paints, whereby a predetermined hue, shade or tint can be-accurately obtained and consistently reproduced within a particular color gamut.

A device of this nature is particularly useful not only in the field of interior decorating but any place where color harmony is an important consideration and where it is equally important thatparticular shades or tints are to be matched.

In the field of selling paint, the retailer may be called upon to provide a wide variety of colors tomeet .the needs of his customers, and heretofore the only solution to this problem has been for theretailer to stock an uneconomical inventory of different colored paints which, more frequently than not, will not mix in the apparent direct proportions to produce the desired intermediate hues.

It is possible to produce .an almost infinite number of shades and tints within a'particular color gamut by utilizing .a relatively few basic shading colors'preferably held to very closelimits to tinting strength,.mass tone and weight per gallon. Certain of these basic shading colors may are dispensed into'the same container for mixing. The fault may lie not only in the variation of the tinting strength of different paints, butalso in the containers -.themselves when the bottom of the container may not be uniform. In accordance with the presentinethod, the various paints are adapted to be dispensed in such a way that a predetermined amount by weight of each color will accurately reproduce a desired hue.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for accurately dispensing and mixing predetermined amounts by weight of paints of certain colors in accordance with a known formula, to thereby produce a desired hue.

Another object of the invention is to produce :an apparatus wherein a plurality of paint containers are mounted on a main frame and each container has a valve mechanism adapted to dis- This is particularly true if a number'of different colors pense paintinto a'receiving'receptacle where the paints may be mixed to form the desired hue.

Still another object of the invention is toprovide an apparatus for mixing and dispensing paint wherein a carriage which has a weighing means embodied therein is adapted to be movably mounted on a mainframe and to be moved adjacent a plurality of paint containers mounted on the frame, whereby paint may be dispensed from the various containers into a receptacle mounted on said carriage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paint mixing and dispensing apparatus wherein a plurality of containers are mounted 'ona main frame, some of said containers being larger than others for the purpose of storing certain bases which may be used more often than any one of the base colors. It is preferable that the smaller containers be removably mounted on the frame so that they may be easily removed and refilled, the larger containers being preferably movably mounted on the frame by means which will enable such containers to be lowered on the frame for refilling.

A stilrfurther objectof'the invention is to provide an apparatus for mixing and dispensing paints wherein a plurality of containers are mounted on a main frame and asingledriving means is adapted to drive agitators mounted within the'containers for the purpose of agitating the paint therein and maintaining it always in a flowable condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus of the class herein described-a novel form of drive means for the agitators in a plurality of paint containers wherein detachable clutch means will permit the main drive shaft to rotate continuously and cause agitation of the paint in all of the containers even when one or more of the containers has been removed for refilling.

Other objects and advantages of the'invention will be apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the apparatus with certain parts broken away for the sake of .clearness;

Fig. 2 .is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 2--.2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary 'verticalsectional view through the apparatus and taken along line 3-.3 Of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the containers and taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the supporting brackets adapted to releasably support one of the small containers; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the small containers showing particularly the base portion thereof.

The apparatus which has been designed for use in connection with the accurate dispensing of various colored paints to produce a predetermined hue or shade includes a main frame which has a plurality of paint containers mounted thereon. The containers which store main base colors may be made smaller than those which contain other ingredients used more frequently. For example, there may be anywhere from six to twelve small containers for storing the main base colors. The larger containers may be two or three in number, and preferably three, and may be used for example for storing a White base, an inert base and a mixing varnish. When a particular hue within a color gamut is desired, only a few of the colors stored in the smaller containers will be used, but usually a predetermined amount of each of the ingredients stored in the large containers will be used each time a color is mixed. Since these ingredients are used more frequently than any one of the paints in the smaller containers, it is advisable to have them stored in larger containers so that they will need refilling less frequently.

Any suitable form of main frame may be provided and may include spaced vertical end members l and 2 having a plurality of horizontal connecting angles 3. Suitable legs may be provided to rigidly support the entire frame. A horizontal angle member 4 extends between the upper ends of the end members I and 2 and an intermediate channel member 5 will extend between the end members i and 2 intermediate the ends thereof. A plurality of supporting bracket G are mounted on the channel member 5, each of which is adapted to support one of the smaller containers i. The supporting brackets 6 include a novel form of construction whereby the paint container is not only supported thereon, but is locked against removal when the container is in its normal dispensing position.

A plurality of other supporting member 8 are movably mounted on the main frame structure, 7

each of which supports 8 is adapted to receive one of the larger paint containers 9. Each of the smaller containers 7 is adapted to be completely removed from its support when the container is to be refilled, but the larger containers 9 being more unwieldly are not removed completely from the frame but are merely adapted to be lowered when they are to be refilled. The details of these structures will appear more fully hereinafter.

A driving means is located at any suitable point in proximity to the main frame for the purpose of forming a single drive means which actuates an agitator in each of the containers, both large and small. In the present and preferred embodiment of the invention a hood I extends forwardly from the upper angle 4 for the purpose of enclosing the operating mechanism for the agitators. A motor Il may be mounted at approximately the center of the apparatus on the hood l0 and has a speed reducer l 2 operatively connected thereto. The shaft [3 emerging from the speed reducer l2 has a sprocket wheel I13 mounted thereon to drive a chain engaged therewith. The speed reducer l2, through the chain I 5, drives another sprocket wheel I 6 mounted on an elongated drive shaft I! extending throughout substantially the entire length of the main frame structure. The drive shaft I7 is located at the top of the frame and is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings affixed to the frame and positioned beneath the hood ID.

A plurality of bevel gears l8 are mounted in spaced relation on the shaft I! for driving the agitators in the smaller containers 1, and a plurality of other bevel gears l9 are also mounted on the drive shaft I! to actuate the agitators in the larger containers 9.

The structure of the driving means for each of the agitators in the smaller containers 1 is identical in each case and the details thereof are more clearly shown in Fig. 3. An arm is suitably mounted on the main frame structure and extends horizontally forwardly terminating in a downwardly extending housing 2| adjacent the top of each of the containers 1. The housing 2| has a suitable opening therein to receive a stab shaft 22 within a bushing 23. The upper end of the shaft 22 is provided with a bevel gear 24 adapted to be in mesh with one of the bevel gears [8 on the drive shaft 11. The bottom end of the shaft 22 is provided with a clutch member 25 of any suitable form, but preferably of the form shown which will enable another and similar clutch member to be engaged or disengaged therewith. Any suitable form of agitator 26 may be located in each of the containers 7 and is such that the upper end thereof may be provided with a clutch member 2? adapted to be normally engaged with the clutch member 25. Thus, continuous operation of the motor II will, throx'gh the drive shaft l1, bevel gears l8 and 26, and the engaging clutch members 25 and 21, continuously drive and rotate the agitators 26 and continually stir the paint stored in the containers 1. This is necessary in order that the color of each of the paints in the containers 7 will be maintain'd uniform at all times and will be always in readines for immediate dispensing and blending with other colors to form a predetermined hue within Y a color gamut.

The novel construction by means of which each of the containers 1 may be removably mounted on the main frame may be more clearly understood by reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Each container I consists mainly of a tubular member open at its bottom and adapted to be received by an annular ledge on a bottom member 28. The member 28 is preferably bowl shaped and is provided with two spaced radially outwardly extending locking lugs 29. Each of the lugs 29 ha a downwardly depending flange 39 in spaced relation to the body of the bottom member 28.

Each bracket 6 includes a rear supporting plate 3| having suitable openings therein whereby the bracket may be attached to the channel member 5. A pair of spaced arms 32 are formed integral with the base 3| and extend forwardly therefrom. Each of the arms 32 terminates at its forward end in an arcuate receiving plate 33, the radius of curvature of such plates being substantially the same as that of the bottom member 28 so that said bottom member can be placed thereagainst and locked in position thereon. The rear face of each of the arcuate surfaces 33 is provided with an arcuate rib 34 extending in a horizontal plane thereby providing a ledge on its upper surface. When the container 7 and its bottom member 28 are in place on the supporting bracket 6, the lower sides of the arcuate flanges will come to rest against the upper surface of the 31. 'ings for-a pintle 3.9, which in turn is supported the spaced arms 32.

-upper edges of the arms 32. "portion 31 is adaptedto be located-and positioned detachment from the supporting bracket.

5 ribs :34, -:and :the upper :edge of the arcuate (faces 33 will .be received by the .space between the flanges 3|! and the body of the-member 2.8.

The arcuate length of each of thecurved plates or surfaces 33 is substantially equal .to the distance between thelugs .29. When the .container 1 is removed for the purpose of refilling, the agitator 2.6 and its clutch .21 will be removed therewith. Obviously, .it will not be possible -to elevate the container 1 any higher thanitsnormal operative position as shown in Fig. v3, because the clutch members will not permit such movement. Therefore, in assembling or replacing the container 1 on its supporting bracket 5,

the procedure will be to place the container I in .6 such aposition that the lugsZS thereon are-below the curved faces 33. The container is then turned to bring one-of the faces:33 inalignment withthe space between the lugs 29. Oneof the lugs 29 will then also be in vertical alignment edge of the faces 33 will be in horizontal alignment with the spacebetween the flanges 33 and the body of the bottom member 28. 'The'container .maythen be turned'or rotated through an arc of a circle 'to a suitable position where the container will thereupon rest upon .theledgesfli.

Suitable locking means are also provided to lock the container in place when it is in dispensingposition. To-the accomplishment of this-end, there is provided .a locking member 'which includes a plate 35 having outwardly extending ears 36 and a forwardly extending noseportion Outwardly extending bosses 38 formbearat its ends in the vertically extending portions of The -pintle '39 permitsa rotation of the plate 35 about a-horizontal axis,

and the cars 36 limit :the rotative movement thereof in'one direction by coming against the The forward nose between the two lugs Non the container. When the container is to be removedor replaced, the plate 35 may bepivoted so thatits nose portion 31 ismoved upwardly. The container may thereupon be free to be rotated for attachmentto or When the container 7 is in place for dispensing pur poses, and the two lugs 2-9 are resting upon the forward-ends of the arms 32, the space between the lugs 29 will be invertical alignment with the space betweenthe arms 32.

The locking plate 35 may thereupon drop downwardly so that its nose portion 37 extends between the lugs 29. This nose portion ST-thereby forms a look by preventing t-he'container from-being rotatedto aposition for removal.

It is'to be noted that when the container is removed for refilling purposes, and the agitator and clutch connected therewith are'also removed,

the driving means for-the other agitators continues to operate so that the paint in all of the other containers continues to be agitated and stirred even though one of the containers has been-removed. Thus, there is an assurance that the paint contained therein. A preferred form of valve'is disclosed in ourcopending application filed.D.ecember.3.0, v1947, and bearing Serial .No. 794,720, which valve is of the rotary .type .and'is actuated by means of a handle 4|. It will be obvious however that any other suitableform of valve can also be used in connection with the apparatus without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

The larger containers 9 present a slightly differentproblem because of their size which makes it more difficult for these containers to be removed for refilling. Accordingly, means have been-provided whereby the larger containers can be merely lowered from their normal dispensing position for refilling purposes, and then elevated to their normal position. The construction and operation of this means together with the driving means for the agitators therein will be .more

clearly understood .byre'ference toFi'g. 2. Each "of vlarger.containers 9 is provided .with'a cover assembly 62 at the top thereof, which coverhas I a vertical openingthrough the center thereof to the smaller containers.

to a part of thezmain frame structure. :tical shaft 43 hasattached thereto a discfiilbelow tator 53may be rotated.

receive a verticalshaft as. The upper end ofthe shaft G3 is provided with a clutch member a l adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from a similar and cooperating clutch member 45 mounted on the lower end of a shaft The shaft 25 has a bevel gear 4''! at its upper end'in mesh with a bevel gear won the drive shaft 17. In this connection it will be noted that the bevel gears Mare preferably of a larger diameter than the bevel gear 2 l which drive the agitators for The reason for this is that the greater amount of relatively thick fluid .in the larger containers requires that the agtawardly from theforward endofa horizontalarm 49. The arm 45 is attached .by, any suitablemeans The .ver-

which theremainder of the shaft 43 extends .as at 5! and is .of a smaller diameter. The disc or member 56 has a plurality 'of outwardly and downwardly extending .arms 52. An agitator 53 within the container 53 may be .of any suitable form, butpreferably includes a frame 54 having a plurality of openings 56 adapted to receiv the downturned ends of the arms 52. The bottomof the a itator frame has a bearing member .57 adapted to be received in a suitable opening in the bottom fiiiof the container whereby the agi- A rotation of theclutch member 45 by means of the'motor H and drive shaft .l-l, will actuatethe clutch i l and rotatethe shaft 43 and member 58 connected thereto. The arms. 52 will rotate and carry with them the agitator 53 whereby the paint within the container :9 will be continuously stirred. The cover 4.2 is

preferably provided-with an opening 59 normally closed by means of a h nged cover plate-EB. Thus, when the container is lowered for refilling, the

cover plate fill may be raised and the paint or other liquid may be poured through the opening.59.

Thebottomfiiof the container Si .is preferably in .the fcrm'of a casting and has a rearwardly extending portion .5! integral therewith. There .are-alsoprovided apairof downwardly extending tubular guide members 62. The member 6| has an opening 63 therethrough adapted to receive a screw d whereby it may be freely rotated. A large nut 65 is secured to the under side of the member GI and is internally threaded to threadedly engage the screw 56. The lower end of the screw 6:5 extends downwardly through a bearing member 66 mounted on the horizontal portion of an angle member 57. The lower end of the screw 64 has a bevel gear 58 secured thereto in mesh with another bevel gear 69 mounted on the inner end of a forwardly extending shaft l0. The rear end of the shaft it is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing attached to the vertical leg of the angle 61. Th forward end of the shaft 10 is rotatably mounted in a bearing "ll secured to a' cross member 12 on the main frame structure. A handle i3 is aflixed to the outer end of the shaft 10, so that the shaft it may be rotated to turn the screw 34 and cause the container 9 to be elevated or lowered. The two spaced tubular guide members 62 are adapted to receive guide rods M whereby th vertical movement of the container 9 may be eifectively and easily accomplished.

Suitable valve means having an actuating arm i6 thereon is affixed to the lower open face of the bottom 58. Here again, the valve 15 may be of any suitable form, but is preferably of the rotary type as disclosed in our above referred to copending application.

As has been explained hereinabove, it has been determined that more accurate results in the blending of paints to obtain a predetermined color can be obtained when predetermined amounts of the various paints are dispensed by weight in accordance with a known formula. To this end, a shelf H is provided on which may be located a pair of tracks 18. A carriage 19 is provided with suitable wheels 86 adapted to ride on the tracks l8 whereby the carriage may be moved from one end of the main frame structure to the other. The carriage 19 may be in the form of a weighing scale or may carry a weighing scale thereon. The form of this scale may be of any suitable type and forms no part of the present invention. The weighing scale will have suitable indicia 3| thereon to indicate the amount by weight of paint dispensed from each of the containers 7 and 9. The scale should be of such construction as to support a paint receiving container S2 thereon. The carriage or scale is located on the tracks so that it may be moved to various positions immediately below each of the containers 1 and 9. Again, any suitable means for holding the carriage and scale in position below each of the containers may be provided. Such holding means may be in the form of a brake attached to one of the wheels or may take the form of spaced detents 83 throughout the length of each of the tracks 18. If the detents are used, they should be spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the wheels 80 as shown in Fig. 1, so that as the carriage is moved to a position below a certain container, the detents in the track will hold the carriage in that position while paint is being dispensed in the container 82.

It will therefore be evident that when a paint of a particular color or hue is to be mixed in accordance with a known formula, the carriage and scale 19 may start at one end of the tracks and will make stops below the particular containers storing the paint which is to be dispensed for the particular color desired. Usually the material contained in the larger containers 9 will be used for any desired color, although the proportions and weight of each ingredient may be varied. When the carriage supporting the paint receiving container 82 stops below any one of the containers 1 or 9, the valve associated therewith will be manually opened and the contents thereof dispensed into the container 82 until a predetermined weight thereof has been obtained. This procedure is followed throughout the entire formula so that at the completion of the process, an exact amount of paint of a desired color will be located in the paint receiving container 82.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts from that disclosed herein without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantages thereof, provided, how'- ever, that such changes fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In an apparatus for mixing and dispensing paints, a main frame, a supporting bracket on said frame including two spaced outwardly extending arms terminating in arcuate portions adapted to receive and support a removable paint container, a removable paint container adapted to be received by said arms and be supported thereby, said container having radially extending lugs adapted to overlap said arms when rotated into dispensing position, and a pivoted releasable locking member mounted on said bracket, one end of said member being adapted to be received between said lugs on said container in dispensing position thereby to prevent rotation of said container.

2. A paint mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising a main frame, a plurality of stationary paint containers of varying size mounted thereon, gear means for driving agitators in said containers at different rates of speed, separable clutch means for detaching an agitator from said drive means, valve means at the bottom of said containers operable to dispense paint therefrom, a movable receiver supported on a movable carriage embodying weighing scales, a track mounted on said frame on which said carriage is adapted to travel to each of said stationary containers, some of said containers being removably supported on said frame by means of spaced lugs on said containers adapted to be received by cooperating spaced supporting brackets on said frame, and pivoted releasable looking members mounted on said brackets adaptcd to be received between the lugs on said removable containers in dispensing position to thereby prevent removal of said container from said brackets.

3. An apparatus for mixing paint comprising a framework, a plurality of stationary paint containers, mounted on said framework each adapted to contain and dispense paint of a different color in selected amounts, a track forming a part of said framework and extending beneath said stationary paint containers, a movable carriage embodying weighing means mounted on said track, and a traveling paint receiving container supported by said weighing means and movable with said carriage to receive an accurately determined amount by weight of paint from certain of said stationary containers in accordance with a known formula, whereby a predetermined hue within a color gamut may be readily obtained.

4. A paint mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising a main frame, a plurality of stationary paint containers mounted thereon, com- 9 mon means for driving agitators in said containers at different rates of speed, separable clutch means for detaching an agitator from said drive means, valve means at the bottom of said containers operable to dispense paint therefrom, a movable carriage embodying weighing scales, said scales being adapted to receive and support a removable paint container, a track mounted on said frame on which said carriage is mounted to travel to each of said stationary containers, some of said stationary containers being removably supported on said frame by means of spaced lugs on said containers adapted to be received by cooperating spaced supporting brackets on said frame, and pivoted releasable locking members mounted on said brackets adapted to be received between the lugs on said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,548,041 Johnson et a1. Aug. 4; 1925 1,73%945 Dehuff Oct. 29 1929 1,842,938 Hancock -a Jan. 26, 1932 2,068,646 Hexter Jan. 26, 1937 

